Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv. has encouraged Jesuits and lay companions in parish ministry to expand their horizons in responding to contemporary challenges. Source: Australian Jesuits.
“If we are to survive and thrive into the future, we will have to change quite radically,” Bishop Long said in a keynote address at the October 13-14 Jesuit Parishes Conference in Sydney.
Speaking in light of the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, the Franciscan bishop spoke in depth about what the saint can teach the Church today.
He said one of St Francis’s strongest legacies was to challenge the values that underpin our society, something he did himself through his radical outreach to the poor while living on the outskirts of society.
“In effect, what Francis taught us is that the notion of survival of the fittest (grab what you can for yourself) and its economic bedfellow, that is, the profit-driven and trickle-down model that undergirds the operations of our society, is no longer viable going forward.
“We will perish under these conditions unless we return to the roots of nature and rewire ourselves to be part of nature.”
The conference brought together 38 delegates from Jesuit parishes, as well as representatives from the Polish chaplaincy and the Cardoner Network.
The gathering included people from local parish schools, staff involved in sacramental and young adult ministry, young adults from parishes and Cardoner, as well as parish staff.
Provincial assistant for pastoral and diocesan ministries Louise Wellington said one of the focuses of the meeting was the family and in particular how parishes can better journey with youth.
Other presenters included the National Centre for Evangelisation’s Qwayne Guevara, who spoke about accompanying young people in their faith journey, and Fr Frank Brennan SJ, who discussed his work with young people through Parramatta Catholic Schools.
“There was a strong sense of gratitude for the opportunity to hear from the various speakers and people left with a sense of hope and purpose for their work in parishes and local schools” Ms Wellington said
“There was a definite sense of being part of a bigger community that is trying to engage with families and young people in new and creative ways.”
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Expanding horizons in Jesuit parishes (Australian Jesuits)
